Keeping hay on a trailer anyone?

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Morag4

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Just wondering if anyone has kept large bale hay (oblong) on pallets on a flatbed trailer with a tarp over the top successfully or can think of any pottential pitfalls.

Was thinking this would be cheaper than buying the small bales and I wouldn't have to handle them when I got them home.

At the moment we use small bales and either collect or have them delivered then have to handball them into the storage area.

Getting old does not come easy LOL
 
You say you will use a tarp. If you use one of those woven blue builders tarps it will let water in and the hay will go off incredibly quickly .They are absolute rubbish. The old canvas ones were the best but sadly are very rare. You need a lorry tarp. It wont cost a fortune to get one made the right size. Dont get a big one ,someone will steal it for sure!. If you can put pallets on top of the bale it will let the air circulate and prevent condensation causing rot . You really only need to cover the top of the bale and maybe six inches of its sides.The more you trap the condensation in ,the faster the bale will rot.
 
Peregrine Falcon said:
Also something to consider is the weight of the hay. It will over time affect the tyres.
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An extra 200/300 kg on a trailer will not be a problem .It will not affect the tyres . On the otherhand the fact that the trailer will go and get another bale every few weeks will keep the tyres in better order than standing empty.
 
Unless you expect it to last more than a month it would be better without a tarp. Even then, a tarp is not a good thing for hay because it makes it sweat. Of course large bales are much more economical than smalls so definitely worth considering how you can do it.
 
I used to keep mine on pallets outside, only once had a problem and that was rats, took a bit of getting rid off but no problems afterwards though I keep mine inside now. Also my friend has kept her hay and straw like that for over 4 yrs and hasn't lost more than the odd handful, the tarps gradually deteriorate but it takes a while, they don't generally do a 2nd winter she then folds the old and uses it as a cover under the new one.
The tarps tend to wear when the ropes rub so having addition cover underneath helps that.
 
I put hooks on the gable end of the stables to hang a tarp over hay stacked on pallets, it works on small quantities. Like others have said you need a ventilation gap over the stack to stop condensation rotting the bales, and you need to replace the pallets and tarp annually.
At one time we had an old pony trailer with wheels and ramp taken off to store hay. The local farmer would bring a huge rectangular bale and put it inside the trailer with about 1m sticking out. :)
 
I tried using tarp to cover large bales that were sat on pallets but a bit of leakage and then heat caused the bales to go off- and to be honest it was a bit of a faff! For about £150 using off cuts of wood from fencing jobs and metal sheets my local farmer built me a hay storage area against the gable end of the feed room that fits 3 large bales in. It has a roof on so the bales are dry . Much less hassle on a wet and windy day
 
booandellie said:
I tried using tarp to cover large bales that were sat on pallets but a bit of leakage and then heat caused the bales to go off- and to be honest it was a bit of a faff! For about £150 using off cuts of wood from fencing jobs and metal sheets my local farmer built me a hay storage area against the gable end of the feed room that fits 3 large bales in. It has a roof on so the bales are dry . Much less hassle on a wet and windy day
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We're not allowed as we are in an area of outstanding scientific interest/natural beauty so are very limited with what we can do. I don't jump but someone that did was made to remove poles from field when not in use, and they weren't even set up.
 
I think the biggest issue would be keeping the elements out. Don't think that the blue/green woven tarps will keep the weather out because they won't. They let the water in & also rot very quickly & you get strands of blue blowing all over the place.

You need to buy a quality tarp & a big one at that & they're quite expensive. Also some bungee cords to hold it down well so wind won't move it & let rain in. Bungee cords hold the tarp down much better than rope.

Fortunately we have a lean to with coregated roof on the end of the stables & store numerous large bales there. I hang a large tarp across the front to keep the weather out if it happens to blow in from that direction.
 
Thanks everyone for your input much appreciated' will be getting a lorry curtain side from a breakers to cover the hay with a light wood peak for the top of the bales and attempting optimal ventilation if we go ahead with the idea.

Have just discovered the damnable animal won't eat the hay I have bought (small bales as usually bought) have persevered with the idea if he's hugry enough etc but no, so at some stage I will have to handball them back out and sell them on or goodness forbid give them away! (Next doors horses are more than happy to munch it!) ��
 
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